Instead of comparing your pain to others (horizontal), compare your present self to your past self (vertical). Are you coping better than last month? Are your symptoms less frequent? That is the only competition that matters.
In a world of limited attention (especially online), there is a perverse logic that the most extreme story will receive the most sympathy, resources, and care. The Pain Olympics is, at its core, a competition for limited empathy.
The only way to win the Pain Olympics is to refuse to play. Put down your story as a weapon, pick it up as a bridge, and walk toward someone—not to compare scars, but to say, "I see you. You are not alone." If you or someone you know is using suffering as a competition, consider speaking with a mental health professional. You don't have to prove your pain to deserve help.
Instead of comparing your pain to others (horizontal), compare your present self to your past self (vertical). Are you coping better than last month? Are your symptoms less frequent? That is the only competition that matters.
In a world of limited attention (especially online), there is a perverse logic that the most extreme story will receive the most sympathy, resources, and care. The Pain Olympics is, at its core, a competition for limited empathy.
The only way to win the Pain Olympics is to refuse to play. Put down your story as a weapon, pick it up as a bridge, and walk toward someone—not to compare scars, but to say, "I see you. You are not alone." If you or someone you know is using suffering as a competition, consider speaking with a mental health professional. You don't have to prove your pain to deserve help.
